Piano-pedal and like device



B. H. JEFFERSON AND W. l. KIRK.

PIANO 'PEDAL AND.L|KE DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I. 1919.

1,353,755. I .Za n Pamasept. 21,1920.

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BENJAMIN I-I. JFFERSONAND VJALTER. I. KIRK, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOI-SyASSIGNORS: i

c TO LYON & HEALY, `OF, Clt-IICAGO7 ILLINOIS,A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

' i applicati@ Yanni March 1, 1919. Yserial No. 2so,119.

To all whom imag/*concern Be it known that we,cBriNJaiirrNi HL- Jur:

PERSON and lVALTnn I; Kimi, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of look and State oflllinois, have invented a certain newand useful Improvement in Piano-liedalsy andl like Devices, of which the following isa full,l clear, concise, and exact description, reference beingfhad to the accompanying drawings,.forming a part of thisspecication; Y f

Our invention relates to piano pedals and like devices. Y f

One of the objects of the invention is to provideI a practical and effective*form4 of piano pedal or like device.V f Another object of the invention' is to provide a construction of piano pedal'which may be used by an adulty person `or by a child or other person with Vshort legs.

Another object of the invention yis to secure such an vadvantageous Vconstru'ction without substantial or undesirable variation from the usual shape of piano pedal now in use. Y Another obj ect ofthe invention is to give ample foothold or space for pressing or acting upon the` pedal when employed for either purpose. 'n s y Another object ofthe invention is toaccomplish the foregoingjandv other desirable results ina simple and expeditiousmanner.

In the accompanyingdrawingsFigure -1 is a front view of the lower part of a piano provided with three pedals embodying our present invention; Y Y j i Y Fig. 2 is a cross secti n taken on linev 2-2 inFig; f' Fig. 3 is a view ofthe under side of the Pegel; Y,y Y

if g. 4 is a cross sectionofaportion on an enlarged scale taken on line lllin Fig. 5;

Fig'.- 5 is a cross section in Fig. 4l. n

Referring to the drawings, vfe'show)4 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 a portion lof the front of a piano case.4V rlhere rare also shown-three pedals 2, 3 and t, whichl are customarily present in a piano. Y c v VIn 1 two of the pedals 3 and-(l are shown in the conditionl or adjustmentl in which they may beused by the average adult person, which condition or adjustment will be called the normal`conditien or adjust` ment. The other pedal 2 is shown iii-condi# saecieauonpf Letters rate-'na l taken on line 5-55 Patented sept.v 21, 1920.

tion or adjustment to permit of itsl being used by a child or other short legged per? son, it being' seen that while the pedals 3 and have surfaces 3? and 4a, respectively, whichma'y beiactedor pressed upon by the foot, the pedal 2 has a surface Qa'which is substantially above,y the'surfaces 3@ and 4 and therefore capable of being reached4 by? a; child orl other person whose legs vwould not extend downfarenough to reach surfagesy as far downy as surfaces 3a and 4a.

Referring more particularly to the construction of the pedal, we. employa pedal bar 5 -whichp'asses through v*an aperture 6 in the pianolc'ase 1 this bar 5 being understood to be connected'inside the'piano with suitable*'instrunientalities which are operated byv theV depressionfof the bar 5. gflhisA bar .lextends forwardly from the front of the piano case l, terminating in an end por- .tion 5a onvwh'ich the pedal properis mounte'd. Thisppedal Slis composed of two portions, a portion f1' which may be called the mainor body portioinand another portion 8, which may be called-the supplemental' portion and which is at the rear end of portion 'Zand extends upwardly at substantially right'angles to the same. The main or body portion 7 is made hollow so that it vmay-lit down over vthe end portion 5? yof the pedal' bar 5 andthe Vfrontend o-f this portion is pivoted tothey frontend of the pedal bar 5a by-'meansgof a pivot or pin 9.l Because of this pivotal mounting the pedal 3 may be tilted for swung upwardly vand forwardly from' the vnormal position shown4 in solid lines in'lig. 2 to an elevated position shown in dotted lines in saidFig. 2. `In the former position,` the pedal may be'jused in theusual way by resting-the foot upon the surface 37, whereas in the other or adjusted position the` foot will rest upon the surface 8a' which is substantially above the surface 3a when the pedal is lowered. V

ff The pedal bar 5 is provided with a layer l0 of felt orv other cushioning material which l is conveniently wrapped around the rear part of the lend portion 5u.I This permits the pedal member 3io be moved `or dropped 'down into lowered position without making a noise oi" doing, anyY injury, 'the body portion V 'of said pedal 3 coming* in Contact with the felt or cushion material 10. i

lAs a matter of further improvement a stop 1l is provided `forlimiting the upward and forward adjustment of the pedal, said stop 11 being conveniently secured to the pedal bar end 5et and located so that the front end portion of the pedal will strike against said stop 11 when the pedal is tilted .or swung into its upper position.

As an arrangement for temporarily holding or locking the pedal 3 in either upper or lower position, we show a ball 13 carried by the pedal bar end 5, and two apertures 15 and 16 in a plate 17 on the pedal 3, so thaty the movement of the pedal will locate the ba'll 13 on one or the other of the apertures 15 and 16 and thereby lock it in such position. The aperture 16 is so located that when the ball 13. is in position in it, the pedal will be in an elevated position, as shown in Fig. 4:. The aperture 15 is so located that when the ball 13 is in position in it said pedal will be in a downward position, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4c. in order to permit Vthis operation, a plate 19 is secured as by screws 20 to the pedal bar end 5l and is bent laterally at 21 and then again to form a straight portion- 22 substantially parallel with the end 5a. This end portion 22 is provided with the aperture 14 containing the ball 13. Between the end portion 22 and the end 5a is located a spring 23 which tends to hold said members 22 and frL in a separated positionv and to resist movement of the same toward one another. Thus' when the ball 13 is located in either of the` apertures 15l or 16 the pedal 3 and pedal bar 5 are held in the position to which they are adjusted with a substantial amount of strength, but this may be overcome and a. movement of the pedal 3 accomplished to "change its adjustment by a quick and strongv effort, sufficient to cause the ball 13 to move out of one of the recesses 15 or 16, and overcome the resist-ance of the spring 23 and thus move to the other of said"` recesses; Upon arriving at such recess the ball 13 is snapped into such recess by the power of the plate 19 and spring 23, and held in the same with substantial strength, sufficient to permit the proper use of the pedal. Adjustment back to the original position, however, may be obtained by a quick and strong movement of the pedal, sufficient to withdraw the ball 13 from the aperture in which it is located, overcoming the tension of the spring 23 and member 19. As a preferred arrangement the pin 9 is in the form of a threaded spindle which can be screwed into a threaded socket formed in the kend portion 3c of said pedal.

In this way it willv be seen that the pedal itself may be used in the ordinary way' or may be adjusted so as to provide an elevated pressing surface to' permit use by short legged persons. It will also be seen that no outside device or apparatus is required to accomplish this result, the pedal itself being sired end.

It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What we claim is:

1. AThe combination of a pedal bar and a pedal attached thereto and provided with a plurality of pressing surfaces.

2. The combination of a pedal bar and a pedal attached thereto and provided with a plurality of pressing surfaces arranged for use at different horizontal levels.

3. The combination of a pedal bar and a pedal attached thereto, said pedal having an adjustable element provided with a plurality of pressingV surfaces which are adapted to'be brought into operative position by adjustment of said element.

4. The combination of a pedal bar and a pedal attached thereto, said pedal having an angularly adjustable element provided with a plurality of pressing surfaces arranged at an angle to. one another, said surfaces being adapted to be brought into operative position by angular adjustment of said element.

5. A pedal device comprising an adjustably mounted pedal member provided with a plurality of pressing surfaces arranged so that by the adjustment of said member said surfaces may be placed in position for use at different horizontal levels.

6. A pedal device comprising a pivotally mounted pedal member having a plurality of pressing surfaces arranged in such position as to be adjustable to different horizontal levels when said member is swung about its pivotal mounting.

7. A pedal device comprising a pedal member having a body portion providing a pressing surface and also having a supplemental. portion projecting laterally from one, end of said bodyv portion, and providing a supplemental pressing surface.

8. A pedal device comprising a pedal member having a body portion providing a pressing surface and also having a supplemental portion projecting laterally from one end of said body portion, and providing a supplemental pressing surface, and means for adjustably mounting said pedal member sok as to permit said supplemental pressing surface to come into position. for use at a horizontal position above the level of the body portion pressing surface.

9. A pedal device having a pedal member constructed with a body portion providing a pressing surface and also having a supplemental portion projecting laterally from one end of said body portion, said supplemental portion having apressing surface lying in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of the pressing surface of said body portion, and means for pivotally mounting the front end of said body portion so as to permit said member to be swung upwardly and forwardly to place said supplemental ber provided v,with a body portion lying nor.-

mally in a substantially horizontal position and having its upper surface formed to provide a Vpressing portion,saidmember also having a supplemental portion extending upwardly from therear end of said body portion, the rear side of'v said supplemental portion being adapted to provide a supplemental pressing surface, and means for pivotally mounting the front end of said body portion so as to permit the same to be swung upwardly and forwardly to bring said supplemental pressing surface into position for use.

11. A pedal device having a pedal member provided with a body portion lying normally in a substantially horizontal position and having its upper surface formed to provide a pressing portion, said member also having a supplemental portion extending upwardly from the rear end of said body portion, the rear side of said supplemental portion being adapted to provide a supplemental pressing surface, and means for pivotally mounting the front endv of said body portion so as to permit the same to be swung upwardly and forwardly tok bring said supplemental pressing surface into position for use, and means for temporarily locking said pedal member in upwardly and forwardly adjusted position.

12. A pedal device having a pedal member provided with a body portion lying normally in a substantially horizontal position and having itsupper surface formed to provide a pressing portion, said member also having a supplemental portion extending upwardly from the rear end of said body portion, the rear side of said supplemental portion being adapted to provide a supplemental pressing surface, means for pivotally mounting the front end of said body portion so as to permit the same to be swung upwardly and forwardly to bring said supplemental pressing surface into position for use, and means for temporarily locking said pedal member in upwardly and forwardly adjusted position, and also in lowered position.

13. A pedal device having a pedal member provided with a body portion lying normally in a substantially horizontal position and having its upper surface formed to provide a pressing portion, saidmember also having a supplemental portion extending upwardly from the rear end of said body portion, the rear side of said supplemental portion being adapted to provide a supplemental pressing surface, means for pivotally mounting-.the frontend of said l body portion so as to permit the same to be swung upwardly andv forwardly to bring said` supplemental` pressing surface into position for' use, and means for temporarily locking said pedal kmember in upwardly `and forwardly adjusted position, land also in lowered position, said means comprising a ball `andapertures into which saidball may beintroduced.v j

l14. Ay pedal device comprising a pedalbar anda'pedal member having its forward end pivoted tothe forwardendofthepedal bar, said pedal member having la body portionV arranged in substantially horizontal position, and also having a supplemental portion extending forwardly from the rear end of said body portion, the rear side of said supplemental portion being provided with a pressing surface adapted to come into an elevated horizontal position when said pedal member is swung upwardly and Y forwardly about its pivoted end.

V15. A pedal device comprising a pedal bar and a pedalmember having the usual pedal shape and having its rear end extended upwardly to provide a supplemental pressing surface, said pedal member having its front end pivotally connected with the front end of the pedal bar.

.16. A pedal device comprising a pedal bar and a pedal member having the usual Vpedalshape and having its rear end ex- 'tended upwardly to provide a supplemental Y pressing surface, said pedal member having its front end pivotally connected with the front end of the pedal bar, and means for temporarily locking said pedal member in adjusted position. Y

17. Al pedal device comprising a pedal bar anda pedal'member havingr the usual pedal shape and havingits rear end extended upwardly to provide "asupplemental pressing surface, said pedal member having its frontend pivotally connected with the front end of the pedal bar, and Y means for temporarily vlocking said pedal member in adjusted position, said means comprising a ball and an aperture on the pedal bar, and a plurality of apertures on a pedal whereby said ball may be moved from one aperture to another. v-

18. A pedal device comprising a pedal bar and a pedal member having the usual pedal shape and having its rear end extended upwardly to provide a supplemental pressing surface, said pedaljmember having its front end pivotally connected with the front end of the pedal bar, means for'temporarily locking `said pedal member `in Vadjusted position, said means comprising a ball and an aperture on the pedal bar, and a plurality of apertureson thelpedal, whereby said ball may be moved from one aperture to another, and a spring tending nor- Inally -to prees seid bail into said last ment'ioned apeitures.

19. A pedal device comprising-fe pedalbai' and e vpedal member mede fhelllofw with e laterally widened iront end, said pedal niembeil having its front :end -pivota'lfly mounted on the front end othe pedal bei* by means of e. pin passin-g-thrcxugh said pedal Vb21-I' and also passing vfili-Bough said widened front end of the pedfnfl member, a plate secured to Iene side of the pedal *bei* and extended Elaterally und then lengfhwise of the pedal bar and llocated Within the igsemve widened firent end el' tee peiitien of said pedal member, spe-ing interposed 'between said pedal bzw and the end peiitien ,of seid plete, seid plate :pedafl member being provided with apertures, fend a lbal-l capa-ble olif iitting :into smid zvpentures to @cause va ytenipOB-ary iloekling'eff 'the lpedali member in adjueted position. f

In Witness Wheifeoi'iwe hereunto subscribe ein* 11a-mes lthis 7h-day0`Frebi1uary, A.

BENJAMIN H. JEFFERSON WX-ALTER l. KIRK. 

